Illegal parkers to be clamped at hospital

Illegal parkers to be clamped at hospital

3 April 2013

DRIVERS who flout parking restrictions at the Downe Hospital are to have their vehicles clamped.

The South Eastern Trust’s get-tough policy comes after failed attempts over recent months to persuade drivers to park in designated areas at the Ardglass Road facility.

From April 29, drivers who park in a dedicated off zone close to the main hospital entrance and able bodied drivers who park in spaces reserved for disabled drivers will have their vehicles clamped. The release fee is £40.

The Trust’s no-nonsense approach also applies to drivers who park their cars along dedicated access routes for emergency ambulances, delivery bays and areas which are marked with double yellow lines.

Trust officials have confirmed the organisation has employed the Parking Enforcement Agency to police the hospital car park and all access roads and to clamp cars which are not parked where they should be.

The Trust says good parking provision for patients, visitors and staff is an important part of the experience of using the health service.

“Inappropriate use and the lack of available car parking spaces can make a visit to a health service facility even more stressful for patients,” said a Trust spokeswoman.

She confirmed the Trust plans to launch a two-week awareness campaign beginning on April 15 to make sure visitors to the Downpatrick hospital are fully aware of where they can and cannot park.

“During this period, cars deemed to be parked inappropriately will have notices placed on them,” explained the spokeswoman. “Those who flout the restrictions from April 29 will be clamped and have to pay the £40 release fee directly to the clamping company.”

The spokeswoman said clamps fitted to cars which have not parked in appropriate areas at the Downe will be removed within 15 minutes of drivers paying the release fee. She also confirmed signs will be erected at the hospital to make drivers aware where clamping will take place.

Last summer, Trust chief executive Mr. Hugh McCaughey informed local politicians that the organisation was very aware that parking restrictions at the Downe were being flouted.

He said areas designed to assist those dropping off elderly persons or those with reduced mobility were being used for parking and that dedicated disabled parking spaces were being used by people not displaying so-called “blue badges.”

Mr. McCaughey said while the Trust sought to discourage this activity through persuasion, it had not produced the required results and warned that clamping cars at the Downe would come into force.

The chief executive said while the use of such a deterrent was “regrettable,” the Trust had been left with no other option.